Golf Car Suspension Strut Offset Bracket Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing independent suspension systems for golf cars suffer from loss of control during cornering, wheel lift, and limited design flexibility due to rigid wheel size constraints, which affects steering control and ride comfort.
Innovation Solution
A golf car suspension system incorporating a coil-over-shock strut assembly with an offset bracket, U-shaped knuckle bracket, and A-arm configuration that allows for extended wheel travel and maintains side-to-side tread contact with the ground, enabling improved steering control and flexibility in wheel size installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an independent suspension system is used, then ride comfort and wheel contact control are improved, but the system becomes more complex and loses control during rapid cornering
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system is divided into independent components: coil-over-shock strut assemblies for each wheel, knuckle brackets, and A-arms. This segmentation allows each wheel to be independently suspended while maintaining overall system control and reducing complexity through modular design.
2Length of moving object
If wheel travel distance is increased, then ride comfort is improved, but steering control is reduced due to wheel lift
Solution Approach 1:
The offset bracket features a semicircular member that engages with the shock absorber cylinder, creating a curved path for wheel motion. This curvature allows the wheel to maintain contact with the ground during travel while following an arc that preserves steering control, enabling up to 8.4 cm of travel without significant wheel lift.
3Manufacturing precision
If a fixed wheel size is specified, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to different vehicle configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system design with its offset bracket and knuckle bracket configuration creates a universal mounting structure that can accommodate different wheel sizes. The semicircular engagement path and adjustable components allow the same suspension assembly to work with various wheel dimensions, eliminating the need for wheel size-specific suspension designs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced steering control and ride comfort by maintaining wheel contact with the ground over a total travel distance of up to 8.4 cm, reducing wheel lift and improving cornering stability while allowing for different wheel sizes.
Implementation Method 1
coil-over-shock strut assembly
Implementation Method 2
coil-over-shock strut assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A golf car suspension system includes a coil-over-shock strut assembly having a shock absorber cylinder and an offset bracket including a semicircular member and bracket legs extending from the semicircular member angularly offset from the semicircular member. The semicircular member engages the shock absorber cylinder. A spacer bracket has a semicircular portion engaging the shock absorber cylinder and opposed sleeve legs received between the bracket legs. A U-shaped knuckle bracket has a web and opposed flanges extending transversely from the web. The bracket legs and the sleeve legs are fixed to the web of the knuckle bracket. A steering knuckle connects to the knuckle bracket flanges. A wheel hub connects to the steering knuckle. A wheel connected to the wheel hub has a side-to-side tread face remaining in contact with a ground surface over a total travel distance of the strut assembly of up to 8.4 cm.